IS PHYSIOTHERAPY THE ANSWER TO
THE OPIOIDS CRISIS IN CANADA?
• Currently, a lot of efforts are being made in Canada to forge a path
towards reducing the burden by raising awareness and increasing
access to physiotherapy. The focus is promoting the role this therapy has
in managing pain and the benefits it can pose for psychological well-
being. One study has shown that on a scale of one to nine,
physiotherapy has reduced pain by 2.0 points, significantly more than the
0.9 registered by opioids . This shows huge promise.
• In addition to this, the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia
stated that physiotherapy should be recommended more for chronic
pain, reducing exposure to painkillers. Because it is a multidisciplinary
science, this type of treatment can also educate, offer advice and
coach people living with some sort of pain. Remember the staggering
numbers and imagine the amount of resources required to make all of
these people feel better and that numbers are escalating quickly.
• Physiotherapy is comprised by a wide variety of interventions meant to
restore, maintain and improve body function and movement and
empower people live the lives they want. What sets physiotherapists
apart is their approach to meeting the needs of each patient
individually. Because the therapy is very flexible and adaptable to
specific circumstances, it allows people to find their own care pathway.